ABOUT THIS ALBUM

Album Notes

The album "Love, Gratitude and Other Distractions" was born with the writing & recording of a single song. Once "Miss Understanding" was under way, other musical mental meanderings began to take shape & get completed. This album is nothing like a concept album. It's simply a collection of tunes in a few different directions. Some are instrumentals, most are vocals. The musicians are legendary. Pat Metheny appears (though uncredited, due to his label's restrictions). Steve Lukather lashes, Bob James jumps, Chrissy Amphlett emotes, Billy Gibbons burns, Allen Toussaint tinkles. Here's a list of other great performers on this album:Tommy AllenChrissy AmphlettLarry CampbellGiulio CarmassiNeal CoomerZach DanzigerDavid DelhommePeter ErskineTabitha FairMitch FormanSteve GaddDavid GarfieldBilly GibbonsGil GoldsteinMark HudsonLarry HoppenBob JamesChuck LoebHugh McCrackenOz NoyChris ParkerShawn PeltonOli RockbergerPaul ShafferYacouba SissokoGary SchreinerLeni SternMat TephenyAllen ToussaintJohn TropeaNarada Michael WaldenKenny WhiteAkiko Yano

The beauty with guys like Will Lee is that you don't really know what to expect. His three solo albums are very different from each other. On this, Will manages to mix African and Middle Eastern influences into songs that sometime remind me of Sting, Steely Dan or Michael Franks. At the end of the day, you forget about the influences and realize that Will Lee is unique. "Shahara" is a highlight for me. Best song Sting never wrote! The musicianship, as expected, is amazing. There is a lot of life and groove in these 10 songs. We all know about Will's world class bass skills, but to many not familiar with his work they will be "surprised" to hear how great a singer he is. I only have one request: please don't wait another 10+ years to release your next solo album :-)

Will Lee does it again. He shakes it up in the groove department, the hip chords, and show off playing department.Will Lee has shown his band leading accumen , especially lately, with his Far East triumphs. The Fab Faux is something Will's fans hope never ends. On his latest record, the listener should expect nothing but the hippest contempory production from maestro Will and his long list of very special players. In Love, Gratitude, and Other Distractions, Will sees that a great record such as this is assembled by a team, or lost by it. Five stars for this gem.